Blackshear's commitment caught coach off guard

By Phil Kornblut

2015 DE Shameik Blackshear of Bluffton took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to announce his commitment to USC. Blackshear had been favoring the Gamecocks throughout the recruiting process but gave no indication he planned to make such an early decision according to his coach Ken Cribb. "That's kids for you," Cribb said. "After talking with him I thought he'd wait awhile but everything may have been overwhelming for him. He may have known who he liked and where he wanted to go and just said let's go ahead and get this part off me so I can concentrate on Bluffton Bobcat football." Blackshear visited USC for a game last season and went to one of their junior days earlier this year. "Honestly, I think he's been a Gamecock fan," Cribb said. "He wears Gamecock stuff all the time. He likes all the coaches. Everette Sands been recruiting him hard and he likes coach Sands. Back yard, local, home favorite. He just liked everything about them." Blackshear is just 15 years old and is still working to master his skills. He had 97 tackles with 17 for loss and 5 sacks last season. "I'm just going to be honest with you, he can play any position on the field," Cribb said. "He's 6-5, 235. He's been timed as a 4.6 but Friday night (in the spring scrimmage) he ran the ball and I guarantee you he was 4.5 or better. It was incredible. He hit a gear I hadn't screen. And he's incredibly strong, he's agile and explosive. Can run it, catch it, throw it. He has no limitations." Blackshear has a dozen offers with Clemson, North Carolina, NC State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State and Southern Cal also on his list. He's the 2nd commitment for USC for the 2015 class. Also Tuesday, Bluffton rising senior DL KJ Ford announced a commitment to NC State.

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OL Parker Boudreaux of Orlando reports an amazing total of over 70 offers at this point. About 15 of those programs have separated from the pack and Clemson is firmly in that group. Boudreaux visited Clemson last season for the North Carolina game and raved about the experience. He is returning this Saturday for a junior day and will bring...

OL Luke Elder of LaGrange, GA holds offers from about 15 schools including USC and Clemson. Some of his other offers are Ole Miss, Cal, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Florida State and Vanderbilt. He doesn't yet have favorites but he plans to formulate a top 10 or in the near future, and he...

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